Jump to content
IGNORED

Becoming a Pro - Career Progression


Golfingaddiction
Note: This thread is 2660 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am new to both this site, and game of golf as I only picked up a club for the first time 6 and a half months ago. I believe I belong to a small group of gifted golfers, as I have a 4 handicap and am regularly just barely off of par on a par 72 course. (Yes I understand the claim I just made. No I am not a troll.) my goal is scratch or under by the 10 month mark, as it's currently below zero where I live which makes it difficult to get out and continue my progress. I am an extremely long ball hitter (at 6'5" 260 pounds and 24 years old) and regularly hit 300+ on my drives with a longest personal drive of about 340 yards, and start hitting my sand wedge at 150 yards. I believe I can make money playing golf in the near future (3-4 years hopefully), but how do I get to that point? My state doesn't have much for big amateur tournaments besides your average run of the mill club house scrambles and the like, and traveling to different states to play in amateur tourneys isn't much of a possibility right now. Any helpful tips or ideas are more than welcome. 

Thank you for your time. 

 

Edited by Golfingaddiction
Left out content
Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • iacas changed the title to Becoming a Pro - Career Progression
11 hours ago, Golfingaddiction said:

I believe I can make money playing golf in the near future (3-4 years hopefully), but how do I get to that point? My state doesn't have much for big amateur tournaments besides your average run of the mill club house scrambles and the like, and traveling to different states to play in amateur tourneys isn't much of a possibility right now. Any helpful tips or ideas are more than welcome.

That is quite an accomplishment, regularly shooting par or close to it after a year.

Maybe start by winning the Montana Men's Amateur (7/21-23/2017 @Missoula CC).  The MSGA also has a lot of local non-scramble tournaments listed.  Once you have trounced all the local talent, you will be ready to take the next step.

Brian Kuehn

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator

If you are in Montana and most of all when you're ready, go over to Canada and go to a Monday qualifier for the Canadian PGA Tour.  I know guys who have played in that tour and were solid +3 or better handicaps that didn't get very far.  But at the same token, it'll give you a good idea about where you need to get to.  Or try some USGA qualifiers.

Philip Kohnken, PGA
Director of Instruction, Lake Padden GC, Bellingham, WA

Srixon/Cleveland Club Fitter; PGA Modern Coach; Certified in Dr Kwon’s Golf Biomechanics Levels 1 & 2; Certified in SAM Putting; Certified in TPI
 
Team :srixon:!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
26 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

 Once you have trounced all the local talent, you will be ready to take the next step.

I'm guessing that @bkuehn1952 is on the money.  First, you have to beat the local competition, and you probably need to trounce them to have a chance at the next level.  But the next level may require you to relocate to an area with more top-level golfers.  One of the young members at my club tried to play some professional golf, after playing to scratch or better with the Cornell University golf team.  He had the backing of his parents, but pretty soon realized that he just couldn't get to level he needed to be competitive.  Remember, p[laying at scratch isn't nearly good enough to make money in professional golf, you'll need to get to +4 or +5 to even begin to have a chance.  Good luck!

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator

You don't seem to have a GHIN listing.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
11 minutes ago, iacas said:

You don't seem to have a GHIN listing.

I don't think that the Montana State GA uses Ghin, it looks as if they do their handicap calculations in-house.

http://www.msgagolf.org/handicap-search/

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator
5 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I don't think that the Montana State GA uses Ghin, it looks as if they do their handicap calculations in-house.

http://www.msgagolf.org/handicap-search/

Right you are. These are the only listings:

Screen%20Shot%202016-12-07%20at%2010.50.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
20 minutes ago, iacas said:

Right you are. These are the only listings:

Screen%20Shot%202016-12-07%20at%2010.50.

Well then that's interesting. It doesn't seem to add up...:hmm:

Driver: :callaway: Rogue ST  /  Woods: :tmade: Stealth 5W / Hybrid: :tmade: Stealth 25* / Irons: :ping: i500’s /  Wedges: :edel: 54*, 58*; Putter: :scotty_cameron: Futura 5  Ball: image.png Vero X1

 

 -Jonny

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

13 hours ago, Golfingaddiction said:

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am new to both this site, and game of golf as I only picked up a club for the first time 6 and a half months ago. I believe I belong to a small group of gifted golfers, as I have a 4 handicap and am regularly just barely off of par on a par 72 course. (Yes I understand the claim I just made. No I am not a troll.) my goal is scratch or under by the 10 month mark, as it's currently below zero where I live which makes it difficult to get out and continue my progress. I am an extremely long ball hitter (at 6'5" 260 pounds and 24 years old) and regularly hit 300+ on my drives with a longest personal drive of about 340 yards, and start hitting my sand wedge at 150 yards. I believe I can make money playing golf in the near future (3-4 years hopefully), but how do I get to that point? My state doesn't have much for big amateur tournaments besides your average run of the mill club house scrambles and the like, and traveling to different states to play in amateur tourneys isn't much of a possibility right now. Any helpful tips or ideas are more than welcome. 

Thank you for your time. 

 

No advice, but THAT is extraordinary.

Vishal S.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

It is a long way from a four cap to playing professionally. A course I played at 15 years ago the pros son played to a 2 Cap. He was 17 at the time. When he was 20 he played professionally and while he made some money he did not last long on tour. It is a hard thing to make it on a professional tour. To earn money of any kind you need to get to at least +4 or better. You need to be shooting 64-66 most every time out on regular courses. You will need to play a lot of golf you will need a lot of money for lessons and more importantly you need a lot of time to work on your game. From every thing I have heard it is fairly easy to get down to around 5 handicap, but then to get to scratch and even better takes not only time but talent and a lot of money. Then when you think you are ready you will need a sponsor in order to even try to get on tour and play. It is a hard thing you are trying to accomplish and I wish you the best of luck.

 

I am not trying to say it can't be done, just that it is a very hard and expensive thing to do. My brother in law took off a year from work and tried to qualify for the Seniors Tour some twenty years ago. You could Monday qualify back then. He spent the whole year trying and did not make it. He did however say I would rather try and fail than to wonder the rest of my life if I could have done it. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites


As everyone else has said, but maybe in a different way: each stroke off your handicap from any point forward will be exponentially tougher. And yea you need to be playing at a level (typically) of 4+ or higher. 

Don't let that diminish what talent you have had up to this point. Shooting par after less than a year is remarkable, but that may only be the first 10% of the progression to holding a ~+4 (or better) level of play. To put it in perspective, I believe there are some women on the LPGA tour that if they were to keep a tournament handicap some women have +9 HC. And that's just in big tournaments.

Last point, from reading around, tournament golf is apparently a whole other animal in and of itself. Most people play more poorly in official tournaments over recreational golf.

D: :tmade: R1 Stiff @ 10* 3W: :tmade: AeroBurner TP 15* 2H: :adams: Super 9031 18* 3-SW: :tmade: R9 Stiff P: :titleist: :scotty_cameron: Futura X7M 35"

Ball: Whatever. Something soft. Kirklands Signature are pretty schweeeet at the moment!

Bag: :sunmountain: C130 Cart Bag Push Cart: :sunmountain: Micro Cart Sport

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator
2 hours ago, woodzie264 said:

Well then that's interesting. It doesn't seem to add up...:hmm:

Well, not necessarily. The OP is welcome to clarify though.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I don't believe any of the OP's post.   We have seen these outrageous posts before but this one is at near the top.  His "I am not a troll" is a sure giveaway.   He is probably a frustrated bogey golfer poking fun at other golfers.  I don't believe any PGA pros got to 4 HI in 6 months.   Of course, if the OP can present some or any proof that he started golf only 6 months ago and is a 4 HI golfer, I will believe his story.   I will even apologize for this post.  

RiCK

(Play it again, Sam)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

5 minutes ago, rkim291968 said:

I don't believe any of the OP's post.   We have seen these outrageous posts before but this one is at near the top.  His "I am not a troll" is a sure giveaway.   He is probably a frustrated bogey golfer poking fun at other golfers. 

If he is indeed a troll he probably doesn't even play golf.

Michael

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator

How about giving a little benefit of the doubt, guys?

@Golfingaddiction, how about a little proof? It'll shut some people up and let them focus on answering your questions.

  • Upvote 1

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

5 minutes ago, iacas said:

How about giving a little benefit of the doubt, guys?

@Golfingaddiction, how about a little proof? It'll shut some people up and let them focus on answering your questions.

I try. I really really do try... 

- Shane

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 2660 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • Day 514, March 28, 2024 Quick ten minutes while waiting for the wife to come home for our trip.
    • Day 262: did a stack session. Worked on rehearsal swings during rest breaks. 
    • It's been a little more than a year since I can last remember hitting golf balls and today I just got my second cortisone injection in 11 months. I thought maybe shortly after the first injection I was going to be able to start playing again with therapy but the pain while doing my backswing past halfway just didn't subside like just lifting my hands up in the air did. So today the Orthopedic surgeon put more in the backside of the shoulder than before to address the tendon more. I'm going to try therapy for another 3 months and if I  can't swing the club without pain then I think surgery is going to be my next option.
    • I was just down visiting family in southern California and we played a couple rounds of golf. I hit my ball into the deep rough near some tree's and my cousin's husband offered me his Sim 2 Rescue Hybrid to try out. And I felt the same way, wow! I loved it, it also had a Pure DTX grip on it which I loved. As soon as I got back home, I ended up buying two used Calloway Rogue X hybrids, 3 and 5. So far I've only tested them out at the range, but I love them. They're much more forgiving than irons for me.
    • Wordle 1,014 3/6 ⬛⬛🟩🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Bravo!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...